Applications are invited for a Research Scientist to join the Laboratory of Prof Rob Kingsley in the Microbes in the Food Chain programme at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB), based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

The Kingsley group combines bioinformatics, genomics, molecular microbiology and models of infection to investigate the evolution of interactions between pathogens, the environment and the host. We investigate the genomic diversity of bacterial pathogens and their associated microbial communities. We aim to understand the function and evolutionary history of genes important to disease, transmission, drug resistance and phage sensitivity. We test hypotheses using classical molecular genetics, microbiology and models of infection. Our work has shed light on how new pathogens emerge and evolve in response to farming practice, and how this may affect productivity, animal welfare and risk to food safety.

The role:

A three-year Research Scientist position is available to explore the link between the disruption of the pig gut microbiota by copper in pig feed and the global emergence of a new, clinically highly relevant, variant of Salmonella. Copper is widely used in the pig farming industry as a growth promotor, but because it is toxic to bacteria it also disrupts the microbiota that provides colonisation resistance to pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella. The post holder be the key scientist in a collaborative project that will unravel the interactions between Salmonella and the pig gut microbiota to understand if copper mediated disruption of gut affects colonisation by this important food borne pathogen.

The ideal candidate:

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in  Microbiology or related discipline. The post suits an ambitious laboratory scientist with a strong background in Microbiology. The ideal candidate will also have skills in scientific writing and experience of oral research presentations. Experience of working with large datasets is desirable.

Additional information:

Salary on appointment will be within the range £32,578 to £39,398 per annum depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time for a contract of 3 years.

Further information and details of how to apply can be found here, or contact the Human Resources team on 01603 450462 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk  quoting reference 1004118.

For informal enquiries please contact Prof Rob Kingsley (rob.kingsley@quadram.ac.uk)

Interviews will be held on 30^th November 2021.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sectors of society.  The Institute supports equality of opportunity within the workplace and expects all employees to share and display these values.  To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

International applications are welcome.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is a new interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Its mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food. A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, it brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute.

The closing date for applications will be 31^st October 2021

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.